Systems and methods for the management of fiber optic cables

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic retention device to properly accommodate for cable management arrangements and schemes in telecommunication infrastructures that are massive in scale and/or require subsequent adaptation of the infrastructures. The device includes a C-shaped opening and a spring biased door which moves inwardly to allow cable entry and exit to the device. In one embodiment, the spring is an integral extension of the door. In another embodiment, the spring is a separate torsion coil spring.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/607,248,filed Sep. 7, 2012, which application claims the benefit of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 61/535,660, filed Sep. 16, 2011, which applicationsare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the management of fiber optic cablesand more specifically to a cable retention device.

BACKGROUND

Fiber optic communication systems are becoming prevalent in part becauseservice providers want to deliver high bandwidth communicationcapabilities (e.g., data and voice) to customers. Fiber opticcommunication systems employ a network of fiber optic cables to transmitlarge volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances.

Cable management arrangements for cable termination, splice, and storagecome in many forms. These cable management arrangements are designed toprovide organized, high density, cable termination, splice, and storagein telecommunication infrastructures that often have limited space.

Because telecommunication infrastructures are massive in scale, theoriginal installation and subsequent adaptation of the infrastructurescan be difficult to manage. Accordingly, the ability to adapt cablemanagement arrangements and schemes is important. There is a continuedneed in the art for better cable management devices and arrangements.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optic cableretention device to properly accommodate for cable managementarrangements and schemes in telecommunication infrastructures that aremassive in scale, have limited space, and/or require subsequentadaptation of the infrastructures.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber opticretention device that includes a C-shaped body, a moveable door, and aspring. The C-shaped body includes a first end, a second end, anexterior flat base, and a rounded interior. The first end and the secondend of the C-shaped body form an opening to the rounded interior of theC-shaped body. The exterior flat base includes at least a first flatside and a second flat side. The rounded interior extends from theexterior flat base. The moveable door is nested in the C-shaped body.The moveable door is sized to extend at least substantially from thefirst end of the C-shaped body to the second end of the C-shaped body toat least substantially close off the opening. The spring is nested inthe C-shaped body and operatively connected to the moveable door. Thespring biases the moveable door into a closed position. The roundedinterior has a curvature larger than the minimum bend radius of anyfiber optic cables stored within the fiber optic cable retention device.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber opticretention device that includes a C-shaped body and a moveable door. TheC-shaped body includes a first end, a second end, an exterior flat base,and a rounded interior. The first end and the second end of the C-shapedbody form an opening to the rounded interior of the C-shaped body. Theexterior flat base includes at least a first flat side and a second flatside. The rounded interior extends from the exterior flat base. Themoveable door includes a biasing member. At least the biasing member ofthe moveable door is nested in the C-shaped body. The moveable door issized to extend at least substantially from the first end of theC-shaped body to the second end of the C-shaped body to at leastsubstantially close off the opening. The biasing member biases themoveable door into a closed position. The rounded interior has acurvature larger than the minimum bend radius of any fiber optic cablesstored within the fiber optic cable retention device.

An additional aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber opticretention device that includes a C-shaped body, a moveable door, and aspring. The C-shaped body includes a first end, a second end, anexterior flat base, a first side, a second side, and a rounded interior.The first end and the second end of the C-shaped body form an opening tothe rounded interior of the C-shaped body. The first and the secondsides include a flat portion. The rounded interior extends from at leastthe exterior flat base, the first side, and the second side. Themoveable door is nested in the C-shaped body. The moveable door is sizedto extend at least substantially from the first end of the C-shaped bodyto the second end of the C-shaped body to at least substantially closeoff the opening. The spring is nested in the C-shaped body andoperatively connected to the moveable door. The spring biases themoveable door into a closed position. The rounded interior has acurvature larger than the minimum bend radius of any fiber optic cablesstored within the fiber optic cable retention device.

In one embodiment, the spring is an integral extension of the door. Inanother embodiment, the spring is a separate torsion coil spring.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the descriptionthat follows. These aspects relate to individual features and tocombinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoinggeneral description and the following detailed description are exemplaryand explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventiveconcepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, first side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an isometric, second side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device with a door in a closed position inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an isometric, second side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device with a door in an open position inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a second side view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a first side, cross-sectional view of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a back view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a fiber optic cable retention device inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an isometric, first side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an isometric, second side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a first side, cross-sectional view of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 13 is a top view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a back view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a fiber optic cable retention device inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a front, isometric view of an embodiment of a door for afiber optic cable retention device in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a back, isometric view of an embodiment of a door for a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a back, isometric view of an embodiment of a door for a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a front, isometric view of an embodiment of a door for afiber optic cable retention device in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is an isometric, first side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a first side, cross-sectional view of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 22 is an isometric, second side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 23 is an isometric, first side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a second side view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 25 is a first side, cross-sectional view of a fiber optic cableretention device in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 26 is a top view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27 is a back view of an embodiment of a fiber optic cable retentiondevice in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of a fiber optic cable retention device inaccordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29 is a front, isometric view of an embodiment of a door for afiber optic cable retention device in accordance with the principles ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 30 is an isometric, second side view of an embodiment of a fiberoptic cable retention device, wherein a door has been removed from aC-shaped body in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-30 illustrate various embodiments of a fiber optic cableretention device 100 in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure. The fiber optic cable retention device 100 has a C-shapedbody having a flat base 102, a first end 105, a second end 107, and arounded interior 108. The fiber optic cable retention device 100 allowsfor at least one fiber optic cable 116 to be inserted, stored, andremoved from the rounded interior 108 of the retention device 100. Forexample, FIG. 11 illustrates a fiber optic cable 116 being inserted intothe retention device 100 and FIG. 24 illustrates multiple fiber opticcables 116 being stored within the retention device 100. Further, thedesigns and/or configurations of the retention devices 100 disclosedherein allow for quick and easy insertion, storage, and removal of thefiber optic cables 116. Accordingly, the retention devices 100 describedherein are easily adaptable to properly accommodate for cable managementarrangements and schemes in telecommunication infrastructures that aremassive in scale, have limited space, and/or require subsequentadaptation of the infrastructures.

The size and shape of the C-shaped body may be adjusted as needed forfitting into and providing the best cable management in thetelecommunication infrastructures as long as the curvature of therounded interior 108 is larger than the minimum bend radius of the fiberoptic cables 116 to prevent signal degradation of stored fiber opticcables 116. For example, FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an embodiment of theretention device 100 and FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate the same embodimentof the retention device 100 except for being configured and/or adaptedto a different size and shape than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-12.

The flat base 102 is a planar surface that faces the exterior of theretention device 100 and is entirely flat. The flat base of theretention device 100 provides for easy installation and/or attachmentwithin cable management arrangements and schemes in telecommunicationinfrastructures. The flat base 102 is configured for mounting the fiberoptic cable retention device 100 to a surface, such as panel, plate,and/or cabinet. The mounting of the fiber optic cable retention device100 allows the fiber optic cable retention device 100 hold fiber opticcables 116 in place and/or manage various cables near, next to,adjacent, or within telecommunication infrastructures. In someembodiments, the flat base further includes a pin 140 and/or a hole 142for mounting the retention device 100 to a surface. The pin 140 and hole142 may be utilize together or individually for mounting the retentiondevice 100 to a surface.

The flat base 102 includes a first side 104 and second side 106. Thefirst side 104 and second side 106 extend from the flat base 102 andalso face the exterior of the retention device 100. In some embodiments,the first side 104 and/or the second side 106 are planar surfaces thatare entirely flat, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-15, 20, and 21. In someembodiments, the first side 104 and/or the second side 106 include aportion 118 that is flat as illustrated in FIGS. 22-28. In furtherembodiments, the first side 104 and/or the second side 106 includes apin 140 and/or a hole 142 for mounting the retention device 100 to asurface.

In some embodiments, the flat base 102 includes a third side. In someembodiments, the flat base 102 includes a fourth side. In otherembodiments, the flat base 102 includes a third side and a fourth side.The third side extends from the first side and the fourth side extendsfrom the second side. In some embodiments, the third side and/or thefourth side is a planar surface and entirely flat. In some embodiments,the third side and/or the fourth side include a portion that is flat. Inother embodiments, the third and/or fourth side does not include a flatportion. For example, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a third side that doesnot include a flat portion, since it is rounded and a fourth side thatis entirely flat. As illustrated in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and10, both the third and fourth sides are rounded and do not include aflat portion.

The rounded interior 108 faces the interior of the retention device 100and extends from the flat base 102 including at least the first side 104and second side 106. In some embodiments, the rounded interior 108further extends from any third and/or fourth side if present in theretention device 100. The curvature of the rounded interior 108 islarger than the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cables 116 toprevent signal degradation of stored fiber optic cables 116. Further,the curvature of the rounded interior 108 forms the C-shape of the bodyof the retention device 100.

The first end 105 and the second end 107 of the C-shaped body form anopening to the rounded interior 108 of the C-shaped body. The opening issized and/or configured to allow at least one fiber optic cable 116 topass through the opening at a time. However, a door 110 attached to theC-shaped body is configured and/or sized so that the door 110 in aclosed position at least substantially covers the opening. The openingis substantially closed off or covered if a single fiber optic cable 116could not pass through the space provided between one end (105 or 107)of the C-shaped body and the door 110. In the closed position, fiberoptic cables 116 cannot be added to or removed from the interior of theretention device 100. For instance, FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 24, and 25illustrate a retention device 100 with a door 110 in a closed position.The door 110 is moveable into an open position. The door 110 is in anopen position when the space between the door 110 and one end (105 or107) of the C-shaped body is at least wide enough for a single fiberoptic cable 116 to pass through the opening between the door 110 and oneend (105 or 107) of the C-shaped body. In some embodiments, the openposition may allow for multiple fiber optic cables 116 to pass throughthe opening at one time between the door 110 and one end (105 or 107) ofthe C-shaped body. In the open position, fiber optic cables 116 may beadded to or removed from the interior of the retention device 100. Forinstance, FIGS. 3, 9, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22, and 23 illustrate a retentiondevice 100 with a door 110 in an open position.

The door 110 may be moveably attached to the C-shaped body by a numberof various mechanisms. In some embodiments, the door 110 is nested inthe C-shaped body as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, 9-12, and 20-25. TheC-shaped body may have a receiving area that is configured to receivethe door 110 and to allow the door 110 to move, pivot, and/or rotatewithin the receiving area of the C-shaped body.

In some embodiments, the door 110 is biased into the closed positionwith a spring 112 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, and 24-25. The spring 112is nested and/or contained within the C-shaped body and is operativelyconnected to the door 110. The spring 112 is a separate individualcomponent from the door 110 and the C-shaped body. In some embodiments,the spring 112 is located within the receiving area of the C-shapedbody. In some embodiments, the spring 112 directly contacts the door110. When the door 110 is attached to the interior of the C-shaped body,the spring 112 biases the door 110 towards the exterior of the C-shapedbody. When the door 110 is attached to the exterior of the C-shapedbody, the spring 112 biases the door 110 towards the interior of theC-shaped body. The door 110 may be moved, pivoted, and/or rotated to thedoor open position by applying a force to the door 110 opposite to thebiasing direction. The force may be the manual application of force byan operator, installer, or user of the telecommunicationinfrastructures. For example, the door 110 may be opened via a forcefrom at least one fiber optic cable 116 pushing up against the door 110.Once the cable 116 has reached the interior of the C-shaped body and/orpasses over the door 110, the spring 112 biases the door back into theclosed position. Accordingly, the biased door 110 provide for a fast,easy, and/or efficient process for storing and/or managing cables in atelecommunication infrastructure.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 a coil spring 112 isutilized by the retention device 100. The coil spring 112 has a coilportion, a door end, and a body end. In some embodiments, the door endand the coil portion of the coil spring 112 are nested or extend withinthe door 110 and the body end is nested or extends within the C-shapedbody. In these embodiments, the door 110 may include a slot for the doorend of the spring and/or a spring recess area for holding the coilportion of the spring 112, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In someembodiments, the body end of the coil spring is located in the receivingarea of the C-shaped body. Further, a portion of the door 110 and thecoil portion of the spring 112 may further be located in the receivingarea of the C-shaped body as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In other embodiments, the door 110 includes a biasing member 114 forbiasing the door 110 into a closed position as illustrated in FIGS.9-12, 20-23, and 30. The biasing member 114 is a flexible member thatextends from one end of the door 110. The biasing member 114 is integralto the door 110. In some embodiments, the biasing member 114 is curvedas illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 16-21. In other embodiments, the biasingmember is straight as illustrated in FIG. 30. In some embodiments, aportion of the door is located within the receiving area of the C-shapedbody. In some embodiments, the portion of the door located within thereceiving area of the C-shaped body includes the biasing member 114. Forexample, as illustrated in FIGS. 12, 21, and 30 the receiving area isconfigured to conform to the shape of the biasing member 114 allowingthe biasing member to nest, be received, and/or snap-fit into thereceiving area of the C-shaped body. In some embodiments, the receivingarea may further include a slot that allows the biasing member 114 whilebeing biased, which causes the biasing member to bend, to extend throughthe slot as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 20. Accordingly, a portion ofthe door 110 including the biasing member 114 is nested and/or containedwithin the C-shaped body.

When the door 110 is attached to the interior of the C-shaped body, thebiasing member 114 biases the door 110 towards the exterior of theC-shaped body. When the door 110 is attached to the exterior of theC-shaped body, the biasing member 114 biases the door 110 towards theinterior of the C-shaped body. The door 110 may be moved, pivoted,and/or rotated to the door open position by applying a force to the door110 opposite to the biasing direction. The force may be the manualapplication of force by an operator, installer, or user of thetelecommunication infrastructures. For example, the door 110 may beopened via a force from at least one fiber optic cable 116 pushing upagainst the door 110. Once the cable 116 has reached the interior of theC-shaped body and/or passes over the door 110, the biasing member 114biases the door back into the closed position. Accordingly, the biaseddoor 110 provides for a fast, easy, and/or efficient process for storingand/or managing cables in a telecommunication infrastructure.

As discussed above, all of the designs and/or configurations of theretention devices 100 disclosed herein allow for quick and easyinsertion, storage, and removal of the fiber optic cables 116 from theinterior of the retention device 100. Accordingly, the retention devices100 described herein are easily adaptable to properly accommodate forcable management arrangements and schemes in telecommunicationinfrastructures that are massive in scale, have limited space, and/orrequire subsequent adaptation of the infrastructures.

The cables may be removed by manually pushing inward on the door againstthe spring biasing force, and removing the cable or cables by hand.

Numerous other changes may be made which will readily suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit ofthe disclosure and/or as defined in the claims. While variousembodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, variouschanges and modifications may be made which are well within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cable retention device comprising: a bodydefining a through-passage extending along a first axis from a first endof the body to a second end of the body, the body having an innersurface bounding the through-passage, the inner surface having acurvature along the first axis that is larger than a minimum bend radiusof any optical fiber extending along the through-passage, the body alsodefining a slot parallel to the first axis that provides access to thethrough-passage from an exterior of the body; and a door moveablycoupled to the body, the door being configured to move between a closedposition and an open position, the door extending across the slot toclose the through-passage when disposed in the closed position, the doorextending into the through-passage when disposed in the open position,the door being biased to the closed position.
 2. The cable retentiondevice of claim 1, wherein the door has a concave surface the faces thethrough-passage and a convex surface that faces away from thethrough-passage.
 3. The cable retention device of claim 1, wherein thebody defines a C-shape.
 4. The cable retention device of claim 1,wherein the body defines a first mounting surface at an opposite side ofthe body from the slot.
 5. The cable retention device of claim 4,wherein the first mounting surface includes a flat exterior surface fromwhich at least one peg protrudes.
 6. The cable retention device of claim4, wherein the body includes a second mounting surface that extendsbetween the first mounting surface and a side of the body at which theslot is defined
 7. The cable retention device of claim 6, wherein thesecond mounting surface includes a flat exterior surface from which atleast one peg protrudes.
 8. The cable retention device of claim 1,wherein the through-passage has an oblong profile when the door isdisposed in the closed position.
 9. The cable retention device of claim1, wherein the through-passage has a major dimension and a minordimension that are transverse to the first axis, the major dimensionbeing larger than the minor dimension.
 10. The cable retention device ofclaim 9, wherein the door extends a majority of the major dimension. 11.The cable retention device of claim 9, wherein the door extends amajority of the minor dimension.
 12. The cable retention device of claim1, wherein the slot is narrower than the through-passage.
 13. The cableretention device of claim 1, wherein the door is nested within the body.14. The cable retention device of claim 1, wherein the body inhibitsmovement of the door outwardly from the slot.
 15. The cable retentiondevice of claim 1, wherein the door is biased by a torsion spring. 16.The cable retention device of claim 15, wherein the torsion spring iscontained within the body.
 17. The cable retention device of claim 1,wherein the door is biased by a leaf spring.
 18. The cable retentiondevice of claim 17, wherein a portion of the leaf spring extendsoutwardly from the body.
 19. The cable retention device of claim 1,wherein the door pivots between the open and closed positions.
 20. Amethod of storing at least a first optical fiber in a retention device,the method comprising: sliding the first optical fiber through an openslot from an exterior of the retention device until the first opticalfiber contacts a door; pushing the first optical fiber against anexterior surface of the door to cause the door to move to provide accessto a through-passage defined in the retention device; and continuing toslide the first optical fiber past the door and radially into thethrough-passage.